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Social Value & Impact

Introduction

In Northern Ireland government departments, local councils and funders of the community / voluntary sector are increasingly asking community groups to demonstrate their effectiveness in terms of value for money that is being invested in them, as well as their real impact.

For community groups, showing their value for money and social value is a positive thing. It illustrates accountability in the spending of public funds which leads to increased public confidence in charities and improves the chances of the public donating to good causes. It also indicates to funders the impact that the organisation is having at a local level through its service delivery and activities. Measuring your social value encourages groups to evidence the impact that they are making so that they can show other key stakeholders (staff, committees, service users, wider community) how effective their services are.

Social Value Engine logo

Ivan Armstrong and Conor McGale

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Social Value Engine
The Social Value Engine was created and developed by a partnership between Rose Regeneration and the East Riding of Yorkshire Council.  RCN is the licence provider of the Engine to groups on the island of Ireland.

If your group would like a demonstration, then contact Conor on conor@ruralcommunitynetwork.org.

www.socialvalueengine.com

 

Rural Community Network was asked by DAERA to work with 6 successful organisations who received funding under its “Rural Halls Refurbishment Scheme”. The purpose of this analysis was to help calculate the Social Value of each of the 6 newly improved facilities, using the Social Value Engine.

 

Social Value of Access to Food Projects

Rural Community Network worked with Hope Magherafelt and Strabane Community Projects in calculating the Social Value of their work during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. This work was kindly supported by the Department of Communities

Below are samples of the Impact Cards that have been developed.

MUCAT 1

MUCAT 2

040 1

040 2

Rural Community Network NI was asked to carry out a Social Return on Investment analysis of 4 organisations that had received funding from DAERA for a range of projects.

The projects that were identified were:

  • Annagh Social Farm, Derrylin
  • Eskra Community Association.
  • The Courthouse, Kesh
  • St Patrick’s GAC, Portaferry

 

Click to download the report

Rose Regeneration and Rural Community Network NI were asked by the Public Health Agency NI (PHA) to carry out a Social Return on Investment analysis of two telephone helplines that were members of Helplines Network NI.

Helplines Network NI is a membership-led organisation currently consisting of 34 helplines across Northern Ireland. Members provide a variety of support services including information, advice, counselling and befriending, and offer immediate support to those with a wide range of health and wellbeing needs, often for those who are the most vulnerable in our community.

Autism NI & Parenting NI were the two organisations chosen to take part in the project.

Click here to download the report